One of the problems with Wellington is that it's not the best name to find a rhyme for (skellington being about the closest to recognisable English I found...) and it's a bit of a grunt rhythmically too...

Les Barker wrote The Nelson Monologue, which played on the myth of the Admiral's disabililties: "Nelson was a lady's man. He drove Lady Hamilton wild. Though he only had one eye, one arm, one leg, 'cause he'd been chopped in half as a child." It does include the priceless verse: "He used to go to the local hop, and there he'd scream and shout, Because he couldn't do the Military Two-Step - and half the Hokey Cokey was out."

As it 'appens, heard a great one at Scanlon's in Brigg last night, sung by Jim Hancock of 'The Roaring Forties', 'The Coleby Ploughjag', 'Clarty Sough' and other incarnations. New to me, can't remember the title but it concerned the return of Nelson's body to England in a cask of brandy - the chorus was something along the lines of "We'll bring him home" or similar. Very plaintive and moving. And well sung. S:0)

BOLD NELSON'S PRAISE (Copied from a collection of naval songs by Cecil J. Sharp - in the book it says By permission of Novello & Co. Ltd)

Bold Nelson's praise I'm going to sing (not forgetting our glorious King) He always did good tidings bring For he was a bold commander There was Sydney Smith and Duncan too Lord Howe and all the glorious crew They were the men that were true blue Full of care Yet I swear None with Nelson could compare Not even Alexander

Bold Bonaparte he threaten'd war A man who fear'd not wound nor scar But still he lost at Trafalgar Where britain was victorious Lord Nelson's actions made him quake And all French powers he made to shake He said his King he'd ne'er forsake These last words Thus he spake Stand true my lads like hearts of oak And the battle shall be glorious

Lord nelson bold though threaten'd wide And many a time he had been tried He fought like a hero till he died Amid the battle gory But the day was won their line was broke While all around was lost in smoke And Nelson he got his death-stroke That's the man for old England! He faced his foe with his sword in hand And he lived and he died in his glory

Alas, musically I'm like Joan of Arc, "I don't know A from B." So I can't give the tune for this, which is truly beautiful. However:

Come All ye bold seamen, whereever you're bound, And always let Nelson's proud memory go 'round And pray that the wars and the tumult may cease. For the greatest of gifts is a sweet lasting peace. May the lord put an end to these cruel old wars. And bring peace and contentment to all our brave tars.

Wellington was only called the Iron Duke after Waterloo. He moved into No.1 London (nice address - it's on Hyde Park Corner) and had iron shutters on his windows. He needed them when people rioted after a failed attempt in politics. They threw stones at his windows and it was only the iron shutters prevented them breaking in.

During the Penninsular Campaign and the fight against Napoleon, he was known as Nosey - and had a dog called that.

A posthumous song about Nelson that we (The Reivers) used to sing is this latter-day Rebel ditty:

LORD NELSON

Lord Nelson stood in pompous state upon his pillar high, And down along O'Connell Street he cast a wicked eye. He thought how this barbaric race had fought the British crown, Yet they were content to let him stay right here in Dublin Town.

CHO: So remember brave Lord Nelson, boys, He had never known defeat, And for his reward they stuck him up In the middle of O'Connell Street.

Well, for many years Lord Nelson stood and no one seemed to care He'd squint at Dan O'Connell who was standing right doen there. He thought, "The Irish like me, or they wouldn't let me stay. That is, except those blighters that they call the I.R.A."

CHO:

And then in nineteen sixty-six, on March the seventh day, A bloody great explosion made Lord Nelson rock and sway. He crashed and Dan O'Connell cried in woeful misery, "There are twice as many pigeons now will come and sit on me.

CHO: So remember brave Lord Nelson, boys, He had never known defeat. And for his reward they blew him up In the middle of O'Connell Street.

I'll never forget the time we were asked to provide a musical program for the annual meeting of the Canadian Orange Society Women's Auxilliary (or some such name) which was to be held that year in Kamloops, B.C. where we were located. As I recall there were a hundred or more people there. We had prepared a program in which we omitted all the Rebel songs we knew and just did "neutral" songs like "The Orange and the Green," and "Windy Old Weather," or pro-Orange songs like "The Old Orange Flute." We decided to sing "Lord Nelson" as our final song -- the audience suddenly grew very quiet as the song progressed, and we were aware of many frowns -- but after finishing the verses above we went right on into "The Sash My Father Wore" (which is sung to the same tune) and the unexpected switch brought down the house! Afterwards a rather stout, dowager-type lady came up to me and asked, "Where are you boys from?" Without thinking, I told her the truth and said, "Well, Chuck is a Liverpudlian, and I'm a Yank." She stared at me in disbelief. Then suddenly gave me a knowing smile and a little wave of her hand and said, "Ah, go on with ye, you're pullin' me leg. I know you're both from Belfast." I gave her a sly wink, and left her with her happy misperception.

There are two Nelson songs (The Victory & Death of Nelson) & one Wellington song (With Wellington We'll Go) in the new book & CD from The Halliard..."The Halliard, Broadside Songs". Further details from: www.thehalliard.com or nicjones.net Hope that's of interest, Nigel Paterson(mandolin, The Halliard)

Lord Nelson knew the perfect way to cure your mal-de-mer, And if you pay attention, his secret I will share; To any sea-sick sailor he'd give this advice for free: If you're feeling sea-sick, sit underneath a tree.

I'm marchin' inland from the shore, Over me shoulder I'm carryin' an oar; When someone asks me, "What is that funny thing you've got?" Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more. Then I know I'll never go to sea no more.

I'm marchin' inland from the shore, Over me shoulder I'm carryin' an oar; When someone asks me, "What is that funny thing you've got?" Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more. Then I know I'll never go to sea no more.

Drake he's in his hammock, and a thousand miles away, Grenville's Revenge is at the bottom of the bay; Many's the famous sailor never came home from the sea, Just take my advice, Jack, come and follow me.

I'm marchin' inland from the shore, Over me shoulder I'm carryin' an oar; When someone asks me, "What is that funny thing you've got?" Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more. Then I know I'll never go to sea no more.

So, sailors take a warnin' from these men of high renown, When you leave the ocean and it's time to settle down; Never cast your anchor less than ninety miles from shore, There'll always be temptation to be off to sea once more.

I'm marchin' inland from the shore, Over me shoulder I'm carryin' an oar; When someone asks me, "What is that funny thing you've got?" Then I know I'll never go to sea no more, no more. Then I know I'll never go to sea no more.

Ord's Bothy Songs And Ballads gives "The Plains of Waterloo" which mentions Wellington a lot quoting to an extra stanza said to be heard in the feeing markets of Scotland

"Here's a health to Queen Victoria In peace lang may she reign Likewise the Duke of Wellington That noble son of Erin For though he was a Tory knave His courage aye was true He displayed both skill and valour too That day at Waterloo"

It also has another song called "The Day Of Waterloo" sung to the air of Scots Wha Hae. Sorry don't have the time to type it all out and I can't find it on line but as an example one verse is

"To all who can the honour claim From Wellington's immortal name To the humblest sons of martial fame Who fought at Waterloo"

It also has "The Battle of Barossa" which mentions Nelson's victory at Trafalgar.

There is also "Nairn River Banks" which again mentions Wellington.

"Like brethren, with the Spanish troops undaunted we advance While we with victory and success keep down the pride of France Long have we been engaged here but never yet did yield While brave Lord Wellington and us could keep the bloody field"

Don't think anyone has mentioned that "Bold Nelson's Praise I mean to sing", cited above somewhere, and subsequently linked to the Dransfields' rendering on one of their early LPs, has a tune closely related to "Princess Royal".

The "England expects" signal which came about because the signal that Nelson intended to send was "Nelson confides" would require two hoists was sent to "amuse the fleet" which at the time was outnumbered and sailing towards the enemy fleet in light winds in such a manner that the leading ships of the two columns of British ships (Nelson's "Victory" and Collingwood's "Royal Sovereign") would come under heavy and sustained fire for some time before they could return fire and engage the enemy. The signal was intended to "waste time", to distract the attention of those who knew full well what was about to happen and take their minds off dwelling on it. The "England expects" was not Nelson's final signal before battle was joined - as it was pulled down Nelson ordered the signal he always flew prior to battle that was the standard hoist for "Close engagement".